SEATTLE, Oct. 2, 2013 – Swedish Health Services announced today that, after a national search, it has named Anthony (Tony) A. Armada as its new Chief Executive Officer, beginning Nov. 1, 2013.

Armada currently serves as President of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, an academic and research hospital that operates the only Level I trauma center in the northwest Chicago region. The hospital is part of Advocate Health Care, the largest health provider in Illinois and one of the nation’s top health systems.

Prior to joining Advocate, Armada served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Henry Ford Hospital and Health Network in Detroit, Mich. from 2004-2009. Armada also served as senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente’s Metropolitan Los Angeles Service Area in California from 2000-2004.

Throughout Armada’s career, he has exhibited a track record of outstanding employee engagement, maximizing patient satisfaction, improving access to care and achieving challenging financial goals.

“Our goal was to identify and recruit a visionary leader for Swedish as we continue to sustain and enhance our mission of improving the health and well-being of each person we serve,” said Dr. Nancy Auer, Swedish Community Board Chair. “Tony Armada brings an impressive record of leading large, diverse and innovative health care systems focused on patient safety and care quality. We’re excited to partner with him in service to our patients and communities.”

Armada succeeds Swedish Interim CEO Marcel Loh, who was named to his role in April 2013 following the departure of Swedish CEO Kevin Brown, who was named chief executive of Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta.

Armada will lead Swedish during a continued period of significant change in health care. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act is expected to generate new patient populations for Swedish and other hospitals to serve, while the industry shifts toward a greater emphasis on helping patients maintain good health while minimizing hospital admissions.

Armada is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and past Chairman of the American Hospital Association’s Institute for Diversity in Healthcare Management Board of Directors. In 2007, he was appointed the inaugural chairman of the Asian Healthcare Leaders Association. In 2012, he was appointed President of the Healthcare Executive Study Society.

“Tony brings with him a passion for the mission, vision and values of Swedish and Providence, as well as a commitment to providing the highest quality care to all who seek our services,” said Mike Butler, president of operations and services at Providence Health & Services. “We are proud to welcome Tony to Swedish and Providence.”

About Swedish

Swedish has grown over the last 103 years to become the largest non-profit health provider in the Greater Seattle area. It is comprised of five hospital campuses (First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard, Edmonds and Issaquah); ambulatory care centers in Redmond and Mill Creek; and Swedish Medical Group, a network of more than 100 primary care and specialty clinics located throughout the Greater Puget Sound area. In addition to general medical and surgical care including robotic-assisted surgery, Swedish is known as a regional referral center, providing specialized treatment in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, high-risk obstetrics, pediatric specialties, organ transplantation and clinical research. In 2012, Swedish provided more than $130 million in community benefit in Western Washington. For more information, visit www.swedish.org, www.swedishcares.org, www.facebook.com/swedishmedicalcenter, or www.twitter.com/swedish.

About Providence Health & Services

Providence Health & Services is a not-for-profit Catholic health care ministry committed to providing for the needs of the communities it serves – especially for those who are poor and vulnerable. In 2012, Providence affiliated with Swedish Health Services, expanding both organizations’ ability to carry out their individual missions. Swedish Health Services is a secular, not-for-profit organization founded in 1910 with five hospitals, primary care and specialty clinics, ambulatory care centers and 8,900 employees in the greater Seattle and western Washington areas. Providence and its affiliates includes 32 hospitals, 400 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing and many other health and educational services. The affiliated health system employs more than 64,000 people across five states – Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon and Washington – with its system office located in Renton, Washington. In 2012, Providence provided more than $693 million in community benefit across the West Coast and Swedish provided more than $130 million in community benefit in Western Washington. Together, Providence and Swedish are working to improve quality, increase access and reduce the cost of care in all of the communities we serve.

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About Swedish

Since 1910, Swedish has been the Seattle area's hallmark for excellence in hospitals and health care. Swedish is consistently named the Seattle area's best hospital, with the best doctors, nurses and overall care in a variety of specialty areas. Learn more.